All you weed demonizers, and I know there are more than a few here, this ain't for you.

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Federal prosecutors have launched a crackdown on pot dispensaries in California, warning the stores that they must shut down in 45 days or face criminal charges and confiscation of their property even if they are operating legally under the state's 15-year-old medical marijuana law.

In an escalation of the ongoing conflict between the U.S. government and the nation's burgeoning medical marijuana industry, California's s four U.S. attorneys sent letters Wednesday and Thursday notifying at least 16 pot shops or their landlords that they are violating federal drug laws, even though medical marijuana is legal in California. The attorneys are scheduled to announce their coordinated crackdown at a Friday news conference.

Their offices refused to confirm the closure orders. The Associated Press obtained copies of the letters that a prosecutor sent to 12 San Diego dispensaries. They state that federal law "takes precedence over state law and applies regardless of the particular uses for which a dispensary is selling and distributing marijuana."

"Under United States law, a dispensary's operations involving sales and distribution of marijuana are illegal and subject to criminal prosecution and civil enforcement actions," letters signed by U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy in San Diego read. "Real and personal property involved in such operations are subject to seizure by and forfeiture to the United States ... regardless of the purported purpose of the dispensary."

The move comes a little more than two months after the Obama administration toughened its stand on medical marijuana following a two-year period during which federal officials had indicated they would not move aggressively against dispensaries in compliance with laws in the 16 states where pot is legal for people with doctors' recommendations.

The Department of Justice issued a policy memo to federal prosecutors in late June stating that marijuana dispensaries and licensed growers in states with medical marijuana laws could face prosecution for violating federal drug and money-laundering laws. The effort to shutter California dispensaries appears to be the most far-reaching effort so far to put that guidance into action.

"This really shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone. The administration is simply making good on multiple threats issued since President Obama took office," Kevin Sabet, a former adviser to the president's drug czar who is a fellow at the University of Pennsylvania's Center for Substance Abuse Solutions. "The challenge is to balance the scarcity of law enforcement resources and the sanctity of this country's medication approval process. It seems like the administration is simply making good on multiple statements made previously to appropriately strike that balance."

Greg Anton, a lawyer who represents the Marin Alliance for Medical Marijuana, said the 14-year-old dispensary's landlord received an "extremely threatening" letter Wednesday invoking a federal law that imposes additional penalties for selling drugs within 1,000 feet of schools, parks and playgrounds.

The landlord was ordered to evict the pot club or risk imprisonment, plus forfeiture of the property and all the rent he has collected while the dispensary has been in business, Anton said.

The Marin Alliance's founder "has been paying state and federal taxes for 14 years, and they have cashed all the checks," he said. "All I hear from Obama is whining about his budget, but he has money to do this which will actually reduce revenues."

One step forward, two steps back. I know the federal government has the ultimate authority over the states, but this seems like a ridiculous maneuver given the 15-year state legality of medical marijuana. If anything impose tighter restrictions on who can receive the medical marijuana, but don't simply spew across the board "weed as a gateway drug" conservative pathos. Regulate alcohol better first. Shit.

Thu Oct 06, 2011 4:26 pm

mattrego

Joined: 26 Jun 2003
Posts: 1416
Location: RI-CA-FL

Yes. The same thing happened here in RI. Except it scared Governor Chafee enough to pull the plug on the three dispenseries that they were going to let open up as non-profits. This does not affect the caregivers apparently. Just the dispenseries. My brother is on the board for the one that was going to open in Portsmouth, RI, called Greenleaf. They had purchased a warehouse for growing and an office space for dispensing. Alot of money was put into it after the Department of Health for the State of RI voted and gave them the go ahead. Now, who knows. Ask Cuttino Mobley how pissed he is. He pumped all the money into the one that was supposed to open in Warwick, RI called Summit Medical Compassion Center. Here is more on it

does this mean there's going to be a 45 day "all must go" sale in CA on weed?

I've never liked marijuana in any form, but i suppose some of that regularly high-priced purple sticky mountain kushberry fruit punch weed might work out better for me if it's on sale.

Thu Oct 06, 2011 4:56 pm

Bicycle

Joined: 17 Nov 2008
Posts: 413

medical marijuana is a shit anyway

Thu Oct 06, 2011 5:00 pm

mattrego

Joined: 26 Jun 2003
Posts: 1416
Location: RI-CA-FL

I think one of the problems the feds have with RI dispenseries were that they were non-profits. RI made that a stipulation for the dispenseries to open they had to be non-profit. Tax breaks. Feds want more money from these programs.

They just did the same shit here in MI. Most of the dispenciaries listened and closed up shop, but some are still open.

Fri Oct 07, 2011 6:13 am

Mikal kHill

Joined: 29 Jun 2002
Posts: 6852
Location: http://mikalkhill.com

EVIL WEED DEMONIZERS

THE MIRACLE PLANT WILL SAVE YOU IF YOU WILL ONLY LET IT IN

Fri Oct 07, 2011 6:19 am

outpatient

Joined: 07 Jul 2005
Posts: 475
Location: haggis and scotch eggs

it's mindboggling that this is still an issue. drug enforcement is nothing but a for-profit travelling circus, and everybody knows it. the idea of these freaks actually believing weed is harmful is more depressing than them all actually being evil power diddling variations of Nurse Ratched

Fri Oct 07, 2011 7:30 am

pugg

Joined: 01 Sep 2005
Posts: 270
Location: Vermont

outpatient wrote: it's mindboggling that this is still an issue. drug enforcement is nothing but a for-profit travelling circus, and everybody knows it. the idea of these freaks actually believing weed is harmful is more depressing than them all actually being evil power diddling variations of Nurse Ratched

I wanna smoke with you!

Fri Oct 07, 2011 8:08 am

3flip

Joined: 30 Dec 2003
Posts: 2201
Location: Minneapolis

outpatient wrote: it's mindboggling that this is still an issue. drug enforcement is nothing but a for-profit travelling circus, and everybody knows it. the idea of these freaks actually believing weed is harmful is more depressing than them all actually being evil power diddling variations of Nurse Ratched

I sincerely doubt anyone controlling policy sincerely believes weed is harmful, and if so it is certainly not a motivating factor.

Quote: I know the federal government has the ultimate authority over the states, but this seems like a ridiculous maneuver given the 15-year state legality of medical marijuana

that's a misconception. The federal government exists because the states created it, not the other way around.

"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people." - The 10th Amendment

Fri Oct 07, 2011 11:32 am

AdamBomb

Joined: 05 Mar 2004
Posts: 3183
Location: Louisiana

3flip wrote:

outpatient wrote: it's mindboggling that this is still an issue. drug enforcement is nothing but a for-profit travelling circus, and everybody knows it. the idea of these freaks actually believing weed is harmful is more depressing than them all actually being evil power diddling variations of Nurse Ratched

I sincerely doubt anyone controlling policy sincerely believes weed is harmful, and if so it is certainly not a motivating factor.

These guys get in position by demonstrating their unwaivering rhetoric.

Check this Paul Chabot dude. You'll never break tools like this and thats what we are dealing with.

Fri Oct 07, 2011 11:50 am

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